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The second Final Four matchup is here; there is no third-place game, because third place games are for losers.
As mentioned yesterday, voting for both Final Four matchups will be open until Sunday. So fire up.
It's No. 7 seed Isiah Thomas vs. No. 11 seed Baby Mangino. A look at the nominees' 2008 resumes:
No. 7 Isiah Thomas
Won 2007 SHOTY.
Presided over the greatest possession in NBA history.
Got fired, somehow.
Earned $18 million for staying away from his team.
Entered Deadspin Hall of Fame.
Tried to kill himself with sleeping pills.
Blamed it on his daughter.
No. 11 Baby Mangino
G/O Media may get a commission
So, who wins?

subset: commoncrawl


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How do you correctly or erroneously pronounce programming terms? Any that you find need strict correction or history into the early CS culture?
char = "tchar" not care?
! = bang not exclamation?
# = pound not hash? Exception
#! = shebang
* = splat not star?
regex = "rej ex" not "regg ex"?
sql = "s q l" not "sequel" (already answered, just i.e.)
| = pipe not vertical bar?
bin = bin as in pin , not as in binary?
lib = lib as in library , not as in liberate?
etc = "ett see" , not "e t c" (as in
/etc and not "&c")
/ = slash not backslash
LaTeX = "laytek" not "lay teks"


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ATLANTA (AP) — Celebrity chef Paula Deen, who was scheduled to appear on national television to address controversy over racial slurs, abruptly cancelled Friday.
Anchors for NBC's "Today" show told viewers Friday that Deen had traveled to New York to appear, but was a "no show" for the interview.
Host Matt Lauer said he spoke with Deen on Thursday morning to arrange the interview, but her representatives told the show she was exhausted after her flight and wouldn't appear.
Controversy arose after the Food Network star was questioned as part of a discrimination lawsuit involving a Savannah restaurant she partly owns. According to a transcript of the deposition, an attorney asked Deen if she has ever used the N-word. She replied "Yes, of course," though she added: "It's been a very long time."


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Nails of the Day: Dark Sparkle
- I have almost all of our gifts wrapped! Did it this afternoon.
- I like the Denver Broncos football uniforms. Go Tebow!
- Had a blast last night with my friend Kalee and her boyfriend Jonathan who stayed with us. She had her dog Mia Bean with her as well... (See Cupcake's Facebook)


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Aug. 1969-March 2011
Wednesday, March 16, 2011
Soulful Gangsta
Posted by Doe Cheese at 9:46 AM 0 comments
Labels: r.i.p.
All In The Details
Posted by Doe Cheese at 9:31 AM 0 comments
M1 Platoon Stereo Boom
My fam Vaugn Garcia a.k.a. super producer and member of M1 Platoon hit me on twitter with a new joint and I love it! GOOD MUSIC!!!!!
I will always show love to real music and forever support M1 Platoon.
So check it out and show your support!!!!!! Download it!!!!!
Hulkshare.com 09 Stereo Boom.mp3
Posted by Doe Cheese at 9:29 AM 0 comments
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The latest radiation technology offers more precise and personalized ways to fight breast cancer.
Breast cancer is the second most common cancer to affect women, after skin cancer. Fortunately, early diagnosis and advances in breast cancer treatment have enhanced the chances of surviving breast cancer. It is predominantly a disease that occurs among postmenopausal women, with 70% of all cases in women older than 55 years. With the widespread use of mammography, younger women are now being diagnosed with early stage breast cancer. Approximately 227,000 women will be diagnosed with breast cancer in the United States in 2012.
Risk factors for breast cancer include family history, menstruating at an early age, taking hormones such as estrogen and progesterone, drinking alcoholic beverages and having breast tissue that is dense on a mammogram. Most breast cancer is diagnosed through a mammogram, but there are other signs such as a lump in the breast, change in size or shape, changing color or a dimple on the skin or fluid, other than breast milk, from the nipple.
Breast cancer may be broken down into two types: non-invasive and invasive tumors.
Non-invasive tumors are malignant but have not yet progressed beyond the structure from which they arise, typically the milk producing glands or ducts. These tumors are typically not palpable and are most frequently identified by routine mammography. 90% of women diagnosed with non-invasive disease are ultimately cured. The most common form of non-invasive tumor is called ductal carcinoma in situ. Invasive forms of breast cancer have spread beyond the ducts into the normal tissue of the breast. Infiltrating ductal carcinoma is by far the most common form of breast cancer, accounting for over 90% of all cases.


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- This event has passed.
Alligator Encounter
June 19 @ 3:30 pm - 4:00 pm
|Recurring Event (See all)
An event every day that begins at 3:30 pm, repeating until September 7, 2020
An event every week that begins at 3:30 pm on Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday and Saturday, repeating until September 7, 2020
There's no doubt you'll have a big smile when hanging out with this toothy guy. Great for photo opportunities!


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By Hugh Lynn Cayce
In my opinion, the question "What can you tell me about Gail?" was a valid one that should be of considerable concern to my father if, indeed, it is he who is attempting communication and provided, of course, that he is in touch with the family activities, as is the claim in most of these purported communications. Gail, as many people know since I have begun to relate this story, is Edgar Cayce's granddaughter who is making a recovery from physical difficulties by following the Edgar Cayce readings. She is, at present, working in the office of the Edgar Cayce Foundation in close association with Gladys Davis Turner, Edgar Cayce's secretary for many years. Gail was born after Edgar Cayce's death in January 1945.
In the book, The Outer Limits of Edgar Cayce's Power, my brother, Edgar Evans Cayce, and I have dealt with five types of readings given by Edgar Cayce which, in some instances, do not seem to be correct in the information given. In the chapter, "The Nature of Psychic Perception," we discuss the possible sources of Edgar Cayce's psychic data. We describe one of these areas as a world of thought form. The world of thought form may be identified by many different terms—the stream of mind, the universal mind, the Akashic Records.
Edgar Cayce's readings describe it like this:
In giving the interpretations of the records as we find them, these are written upon the skein of time and space by the activity of the mental self. For the superconscious mind becomes the mind of the soul in those interims between material manifestations and the cosmic or universal manifestations - yet these are one. For it is as the activities of a day, of an hour - the reactions from same are dependent upon what has been builded in the consciousness of the soul. Thus these become, as here, a part of the whole entity's experience in the material sojourns. (Reading 3605-1)
And in another place:
Conditions, thoughts, activities of men in every clime are things; as thoughts are things. They make their impressions upon the skein of time and space. Thus, as they make for their activity, they become as records that may be read by those in accord or attuned to such a condition. (Reading 3976-16)
Apparently, we are not able yet to measure thought energy as accurately as we may be able to do in the near future. It would seem that thoughts, especially heated, highly emotionally charged thought patterns, actually shape a finer kind of matter which is moving so fast that our senses are not able to perceive it. Sense perception is possible by an individual who has altered his state of consciousness and can thus tune to these higher vibrations.
Each of us as individuals must come to grips with our own personal experiences involving survival. It is here that I, myself, have found the greatest source of consolation and understanding. Frequently such personal experiences do not constitute evidence for anyone else, and such experiences will not deter me from further investigation, searching out measurable evidence for survival. However, as any investigator knows, if telepathy and clairvoyance are allowed as possibilities, survival evidence is tenuous, at best. I have had dreams of both my mother and father since their death, dreams which have been so vivid and so helpful that they do constitute, for me, proof of their survival of bodily death. I have also had some conscious breakthroughs—small visions one might call them—which have sometimes involved more than one person. They have brought me and those with whom I am closely associated physical, mental and emotional help that has been most compelling. For the present, these experiences are too personal to relate in detail.
There is one peculiar story I would like to share with you in closing. It involves my mother, Gertrude Cayce, who had many readings from Edgar Cayce during her lifetime. In one of these she was given a life-seal. It consisted of symbols which Edgar Cayce suggested be painted or embroidered and kept where she could see them. This combination of symbols, he said, would speak to her unconscious and would be of help to her. A friend painted the life-seal for her, combining the suggested symbols which included two red roses with crossed stems. The reading indicated that the roses would stand for my brother and me. When my mother died, this life-seal was on her dressing table.
Shortly after her death and while I was still overseas during World War II, Florence Edmonds, a close friend of my mother, had a dream in which my mother appeared to her and said, "When I communicate with Hugh Lynn, tell him that I will give him two red roses."
Upon my return from overseas, Florence told me of the dream. She said she had not told the dream to anyone else. I asked her to keep it to herself. A few years afterward she died. As time went on I looked in the numerous purported communications from Gertrude Cayce, for the symbol of two red roses as identification. They were not given.
About three years ago I had a call from a man in a large eastern city who told me a strange story about his wife who had gotten into difficulties from playing with a ouija board. She had been directed to automatic writing, after which she began to hear voices. She talked to her doctor about this, and he put her in a mental institution for a time where she was treated to help rid her of the voices. Her husband told me she was back home again and that she was still hearing the voices but was no longer telling her doctor about them. Apparently she had got hold of my book Venture Inward, and had asked her husband to call me to ask if I would talk with her on the telephone, allowing her to describe what the voices were saying to her. She felt I might be able to help. That same day I accepted a long distance telephone call from the man and his wife. He was on one extension and she was on another. For some ten minutes I listened to her repeat the strange, confusing pattern of words she seemed to be hearing—idle gossip, dirty stories, dire predictions, teasing kinds of comments about the lady personally. It was a bewildering variety of nonsense, typical of the strange patterns of voices familiar to many disturbed people. Suddenly the woman stopped. Then she said, "Mr. Cayce, your mother says to give you two red roses." She then
hung up.
There is a rather beautiful conclusion to this story, for at that point, the voices which had been disturbing the woman ceased.
Hugh Lynn Cayce (1907-1982) was the eldest son of Edgar Cayce and a leading thinker, author, and spokesperson for psychological and paranormal subjects. Before his death, Hugh Lynn served his father's Association for Research and Enlightenment, Inc. (A.R.E.), as chairman of the board. He was also author of the book Venture Inward, an examination of safe and unsafe methods of exploring personal psychic experiences and The Outer Limits of Edgar Cayce's Power which explores the relatively small number (200) of readings that appeared to be inaccurate.


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Watch Greg Hill's "7 Terrain Tricks"
This sounds like a lot of thinking to do.
That's OK – it takes a lot of time to go up. It's all about developing a loop of thought patterns that you keep going over and over – where's the next safe spot? What's above me? What dangers am I exposed to, and where am I going if something happens? – that's what keeps you safe.
And it's not about making things tough – sometimes it's about making them easy.
Yeah – especially the 'fight the smallest guy at the bar' trick. You want to go up the safest, easiest terrain, because often, it's the least exposed to danger. If I'm touring in a new area, I'll have looked at a map, found the smallest slopes, and used that information while I'm out there.
Greg, who taught YOU the tricks?
Most of these I picked up at the beginning of my skiing career – but mostly, I've learned from the mountains themselves. If you watch and listen, you can learn a lot – and that's at the heart of what many of these tricks are about. Nothing can teach you something like a real-life example. Early on, a mentor taught me to 'always ski from the top'. Not long after, I found myself on a tour, about to drop into a line, and realized, I wasn't at the top. So I got back on the ridge, worked my way to the top. The third turn in I sent down a Class III slide that would have almost certainly killed me.
That's not the only time you've seen these tricks work in real life.
Absolutely not. "Seeking the higher ground" – we were on Mt Manaslu in 2012. We camped on the highest ground we could find. That night, an avalanche caught 30 people sleeping in tents. Camps II and II got hit. 12 people died and 30 were caught in their sleeping bags. We were above the slide because we'd picked a spot with no risk from above – just 50m away from where the slide hit.
You want to reduce your time of exposure – but that doesn't mean you need to rush.
Yes – movement between safe spots should be fast, but don't make hasty decisions. Move quickly, think calmly. You don't want to rush decisions.
Is it possible to reduce risk to zero?
Absolutely not. And for me, that's part of the definition of adventure – it's an activity that involves risk. That admittedly is part of what makes it exciting and interesting.
Stay tuned for more from Greg Hill in the next instalment of his video series – and ski safe!
Main image: Bruno Long
Greg Hill's mountain rules


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From vintage chic to clean modern shapes, how do these seamstresses create and communicate their own unique style in their projects? What and who inspires them, from film and music to everyday life. And what's their dream outfit?
Oh we've got a corker to kick off the new year for you. This lady is tremendously popular with you lot so who better to take us into 2013 with her style secrets? I give you… a very modest Karen Ball from the hugely influential (and hilarious) blog Did You Make That?
Karen, I've watched you develop your handmade style over the last year or so. Your nods to vintage couture and love of colourful prints really mark you out as a stylish lady. But how would you sum up your handmade style?
You're right that I like strong colours, but I still don't feel as though I have a particularly defined sense of style. Some bloggers know exactly what furrow they plough, and stick with it. I'm a bit of a butterfly that skitters around from one thing to the other. I feel as though my personal sense of style has maybe only started to settle over recent months. And I only think that because readers have told me so!
But creativity is all about experimenting and being brave enough to make mistakes. If you have a blog, you'll make those mistakes in public!
Where do you find your style inspiration and how do you channel that into your me-made wardrobe?
Whenever I go to the hairdresser, I devour their copy of Vogue magazine! I love this for inspiration – soaking up colours, fabrics, just the feel of the season. Once you get past the laughably unachievable prices and lifestyle, and just treat the magazine as a mood board, it becomes a much more interesting read.
I people watch like mad! London is a great fashion capital and just walking the streets or sitting on the tube, I'm surrounded by people who really know what they're doing.
Like most Sewists, I see something on another person's blog and want to emulate it. I'm trying to be a bit more cautious on that front, though. So many patterns ordered, so many patterns still sitting in drawers…
Sewing meet ups have had a big impact. They're a great opportunity to share knowledge and tips, see other people's outfits and just get out of your own groove. Swaps are excellent for testing your comfort zone – you often go home with something you'd never have looked at otherwise.
What's your creative process in deciding what to make? Is it a fabric-based decision or a pattern that inspires you?
Choosing what to make is a very, very organic process for me. I am not someone who draws up a list at the start of the year (barring my Sewlutions promise to conquer the blouse). I have enough commitments and deadlines in my working life, so never plan much more than 2/3 months ahead. My stash is pretty small. I tend to start with a pattern and then find the fabric. When I made the Simplicity 4934 with Beth at Sunny Gal Studios, I bought my vintage pattern and then hit Goldhawk Road. I knew right away that the lavender wool I saw there was the right choice for me. I still can't forgive the shop for refusing me a discount, though – I bought eight metres of that stuff!
Who are your style icons and why?
Hmmm. Am I allowed to say I don't really have any? (Of course! – Ed) I mean, there are looks I like, but I've never consciously tried to emulate anyone else. I do LOVE the silhouette of any woman who is long and lithe – in another life I will be born into a body that
is all long limbs and tapering fingers! Okay, if forced to say, I would be a female character in any novel by F Scott Fitzgerald – just without the nerves and drinking!
But flapper dresses don't really work in the mean streets of Walthamstow and I still haven't found a speakeasy in E17.
Are there any particular designers or high street stores that you use for inspiration?
I pop into Top Shop Oxford Circus when I'm passing. I do like to see what the youngsters are up to! I love Uniqlo right now. But, honestly, um – no! In fact, high fashion annoys me sometimes. I've bought two peplum patterns and now I wonder if it's even worth bothering to sew them – the peplum ship has sailed.
If you had to select one self-stitched garment that really encapsulates your style – what would it be and why?
I still really like the Vogue 8667 dress that I made during my first term at Morley College. It has just a touch of retro and I used a wonderful magenta wool. I loves me a wool dress!
Why do you sew what you sew? Do you choose projects on a whim or do you look at your existing wardrobe and spot vital gaps to fill?
Often, I'll get curious and want to expand my knowledge. I want to work with leather soon, just to find out how to work with leather! I recently made a ruched sleeve top because I wanted to understand ruched sleeves. I loved the learning curve of making Gertie's Bombshell Dress, even though I knew I'd hardly ever wear the finished item. I just wanted to learn! And when I made my Vogue 8548 coat I plunged into the unknown of tailoring. I have merely scratched the surface. The more you learn, the more you realise how little you know…
Do you ever take risks and experiment with your look? What's worked and what hasn't?
I think that when you start sewing, you often take really big risks – you're plunging into a whole, new world and there's a certain amount of liberation there. Plus, you just don't know how to make the right choices! So, yes, I've definitely experimented. Some of it has worked and some of it hasn't.
The Sencha blouse was a horror story for me! The Taffy blouse made me feel like a clown. Oh dear, that looks as though I'm knocking Colette Patterns, which I am not at all. Two cases of not understanding what suits me and making bad fabric choices. What HAS worked have been some lovely dresses. I love a well-fitted dress. My two versions of Simplicity 1882 were both big hits and extremely comfortable.
And I remain very fond of the Butterick 5605 dress I made in floral cotton for a friend's vintage-themed wedding.
There are certain looks some of us just can't pull off… do you have a style bugbear?
Oh, the high neckline is my sworn enemy! I have a round face and need to give it space. I really admire the layered look, but not on my figure – I just look like I don't know how to get dressed in the morning. I wear skinny jeans and jeggings but need to ensure that my derriere is sufficiently covered. I've realised that gathered skirts don't do any favours for my paunch, which is a shame because they're so easy to make! I look dreadful in most pairs of shorts. And I will never, ever wear anything that reveals a midriff. Shudder.
What would be your dream outfit, existing or otherwise?
Something comfortable! My issue with uber-fitted dresses is – what do you do after you've eaten a meal?! But I tend to go too far the other way and sometimes make items that are a bit roomy. I have days when I really want to cover up – then my dream outfit would be a sack (or the Vogue 1179, which I have made four times now)! On more confident days, my dream outfit would be a beautifully fitted, understated dress, maybe in wool, probably in a solid colour!
What other sewing bloggers would you recommend for great individual style?
I absolutely love A Fashionable Stitch right now. She has such a good eye for colour and is really doing a lot with practical, comfortable yet stylish day wear.
DIY Couture is urban, edgy, hip – and just a lovely person! She's so cool and creative, I want to be her. Those other lives I need to live are stacking up…
I've always liked Boo Dogg and Me. She works wonders with linen. You see, it's that elusive, layered look again…
Finally, what's on your sewing table right now?
A blouse! Then I'd like to make a couple of daywear skirts (one including leather), and then I think I might feel a dress coming on. Can't beat a good dress! I'm annoyed that I still haven't wrestled New Look 6000 to the ground. And before the end of 2013, I need to conquer my Sewlution…
You are a modest minnie Karen but we love you for it. What a way with wool you have! Thanks for sharing your handmade style with us.


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Swarovski crystal Article 1088
Color: Sapphire
Shape: Chaton (Round with a pointed back)
Size: 29ss, 6mm
Photo is a representation and may not reflect the quantity of crystals you will receive.
We do our best to represent the colors as accurately as possible. Monitor settings, video cards and monitor resolution can cause slight changes.


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SPRINGFIELD, Ill. (AP) — Illinois House Speaker Michael Madigan is planning a fresh vote on his plan to overhaul the public-employee pension system, despite a request by the governor for compromise with the Senate.
Madigan, a Chicago Democrat, filed legislation Wednesday identical to a bill the House approved last month that failed by a wide margin in the Senate.
It doesn't mention any inclusion of a rival proposal by Senate President John Cullerton, as requested by Gov. Pat Quinn Monday as a compromise way to move forward on fixing the state's nearly $100 billion shortfall in funding employee pensions. Quinn has called a special session in Springfield for next week to address the issue.
Madigan's spokesman, Steve Brown, said Wednesday that the hybrid proposal sought by Quinn was "unlikely to pass" so the speaker is still pushing his own proposal.
"I think he was pretty direct about the proposal that he thinks would get the job done," Brown said.
Cullerton spokeswoman Rikeesha Phelon did not comment directly on Madigan's move on Wednesday, but said that the Senate president was "committed to advancing" the dual proposal supported by Quinn. That legislation has yet to be filed.
Madigan's plan would unilaterally impose pension changes on state workers and raise the retirement age, by most accounts saving the state the most money of any proposal. Cullerton's plan would give state workers choices over what benefits to receive in retirement, which he contends would give it a better chance of surviving a court challenge.
Quinn proposed passing both in a single bill, essentially making Cullerton's proposal a backup plan in case Madigan's solution is thrown out in court. But Madigan suggested it was too complicated and called on Quinn to persuade the Senate to approve the House supported option.
The one change in the new version of Madigan's plan is that its implementation would be delayed until June 2014, which means it can now be approved with fewer votes.
Madigan's legislation will be presented at a House committee meeting Tuesday, the day before the full Legislature convenes.
Illinois' five public employee retirement systems are $97 billion short of what's needed to pay benefits that were promised to workers and retirees in their labor contracts with the state. The shortfall is due largely to years of the Legislature voting to skip or short the state's payments.
The bill is SB2404. Online: http://www.ilga.gov.
See also:


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HTC's One M8 is a very nice, well-built phone, but it's large even by the standards of most Android phones. The new HTC One Mini 2, which will arrive in Europe and Asia this summer, solves one problem by shrinking the phone to more manageable dimensions. Like the first HTC One Mini and Samsung's Galaxy S4 Mini, though, it's also a substantial step down in most important specifications.
The phone uses a 4.5-inch 720p display and comes with a 1.2 quad-core Snapdragon 400 SoC like the one in Motorola's Moto G. That processor should be reasonably quick, but it's a big step down from the M8's high-end Snapdragon 801. The Mini 2 also gives up HTC's UltraPixel camera (it opts for a more conventional 13MP shooter instead) and the second camera used to make those fancy faux-depth-of-field photos. It steps down to 1GB of RAM from 2GB and comes with dual-band 802.11n instead of 802.11ac.
The Mini 2 does still include a 5MP front camera, LTE, the two front-facing "BoomSound" speakers, the micro SD card slot, and Android 4.4.2 with HTC's Sense skin on top of it, according to AnandTech's information. Its body uses more plastic than the standard M8, especially around the edges of the phone, but the front and back panels appear to be made from the same aluminum we're used to in the larger phones.
It continues to be difficult to track down a smallish Android phone that uses top-end parts—phones with large screens are currently driving a lot of the growth in the high-end phone market, and the Android OEMs are all chasing those numbers. Phones like Sony's Xperia Z1 Compact combine a smaller body with high-end specs, but it's not being offered in the US by any of the major carriers.
The other thing to note about these smaller phones is that they normally retail for about $400 unlocked (or around $100 with a two-year contract, which will vary based on your carrier and what sales they have going on). If you're in the market for a smaller phone and don't mind the midrange specs, something like the $179 Moto G might be a better deal, especially now that there's a $220 LTE-equipped version on the way. We don't know when the One Mini 2 will launch in the US, but there are already alternatives here if you aren't married to HTC's designs.


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Our game, Ready Steady Bang, was written using cocos2d-iphone, which we were considering using for our next game, Ready Steady Play. Then I remembered the C++ gaming framework cocos2d-x and its promise of cross-platform compilation.
In this article, I break down how I developed the Ready Steady Play game using cocos2d-x and discuss the porting travails of moving the final code from iOS to Android and Windows Phone 8. I used v2.2.x of cocos-2dx, but most of this text should be applicable for v3.x. I wanted to write this as a lesson to any budding (or even experienced) game developer to show how to get started and to map out what might be the major pitfalls along the way. While I've tried to make it comprehensive, a single article cannot cover every step of the design and development process.
If you don't want to delve into C++ you can always opt for something like cocos2d-js, where you can make a cocos2d-x game using only JavaScript APIs. However, this article focuses solely on cocos2d-x projects.
The following prerequisites and are not really required, but are highly recommended.
- Intermediate level of object-oriented programming and C++.
- Understanding of run loops.
- Beginner level of shell scripting and understanding of Makefiles.
- Experience using IDEs and looking up documentation. The cocos2d-x documentation is lacking, but there are enough guides out there to help you with any specific problems.
- Beginner level knowledge of SCM. I'll use git, but feel free to use your own SCM product.
Setting Up the Project
- Create an empty git repository in the root folder.
- Submodule cocos2d-x using the latest tag/release. I ended up forking the project so that I could make adjustments that suited Ready Steady Play.
- Take the C++ project template and copy it into the root folder (a great way to do this is by using the
create_project.pyscript in the
This initial setup creates the folders required to develop the game. The contents of your root folder should be:
Classes, which contains all the game logic files that you will be writing.
cocos2d-x, which is the submodule created in step two above.
.projfolders are set up for you by cocos2d-x so that you can focus on creating the game and not on porting. That doesn't mean that it's an effortless process, but you're off to an easy start.
Resources, which is where all the assets such as sound files, images, fonts, etc. are placed.
I come from an iOS development background, so the majority of the coding work I did was in the
proj.ios folder. I know my way around Xcode like the back of my hand: It has the fastest build time of all the development environments I've used for the project (the others being Eclipse and Visual Studio Express 2013) and the simulator is perfect for quick and easy testing.
Understanding cocos2d-x
The cocos2d-x system is fairly complex, but most of it should be running in the background without you needing to delve into it. A lot of the structure is taken from iOS development, so thankfully, I could get my head around it quickly. If you come from an Android or Windows Phone 8 background, it probably won't take you too long either.
To start an application running, you'll come across the following classes:
CCDirector, this is the big boss of your application. The director is responsible for passing along render calls, user interaction events, and much more. Most of the time you will only be using the director to present different scenes in your game.
CCEGLView, the view is responsible for rendering the game on the device screen. Other than the initial setup, you probably won't ever need to worry about it.
CCFileUtils, every operating system has its own way of storing and managing files. This is what you use if you want to perform any kind of file handling operations, although more often than not, this is transparent to you. When the app starts, you provide it with the search paths, which I'll explain shortly.
CCScene, this is the base node that the director will display. I'll describe it in more detail when I discuss node hierarchy
Design Resolution and Policy
When you start a cocos2d-x game, one of the first calls you need to make is:
CCEGLView::sharedOpenGLView()-<setDesignResolutionSize( designResolutionSize.width, designResolutionSize.height, designPolicy);
Ready Steady Play was designed for an iPad retina screen, which means that all images and sizing were based on a design resolution of 1536×2048 pixels. But the important part is the design policy. The policy dictates how the game is displayed on screens of varying aspect ratios. The following are the definitions of the different design policies, taken from
enum ResolutionPolicy { // The entire application is visible in the specified area without trying to // preserve the original aspect ratio. // Distortion can occur, and the application may appear stretched or // compressed. kResolutionExactFit, // The entire application fills the specified area, without distortion but // possibly with some cropping, while maintaining the original aspect ratio of // the application. kResolutionNoBorder, // The entire application is visible in the specified area without distortion // while maintaining the original aspect ratio of the application. Borders can // appear on two sides of the application. kResolutionShowAll, // The application takes the height of the design resolution size and modifies // the width of the internal canvas so that it fits the aspect ratio of the // device no distortion will occur however you must make sure your application // works on different aspect ratios kResolutionFixedHeight, // The application takes the width of the design resolution size and modifies // the height of the internal canvas so that it fits the aspect ratio of the // device no distortion will occur however you must make sure your application // works on different aspect ratios kResolutionFixedWidth, kResolutionUnKnown, };
When designing for mobile phones of varying sizes, the first three options are not ideal. You don't want your game being squashed (
ExactFit), cropped (
NoBorder) or having black borders (
ShowAll). We opted for
FixedHeight as it is far less drastic having a wider screen than a shorter one, especially considering that we use both portrait and landscape modes. Take the second game in Ready Steady Play, Hobby Hurdles, as an example when played on an iPhone 5 screen:
FixedWidth mode, it becomes almost impossible to fit anything on the screen, while in
FixedHeight the game is slightly zoomed out. When compared between devices it might look a bit strange, but most players use just one device and they won't know the difference.
Content Scale Factor
Once the design resolution and policy are set up, you need to tell cocos2d-x which image resources you intend to use, which will define the content scale factor. The standard setup for cocos2d-x is to have three different sizes for images: HDR (High Definition Retina), HD (High Definition), and SD (Standard Definition). As mentioned before, we designed Ready Steady Play for a retina iPad screen, so our size definitions are:
When the app starts, we choose the appropriate images resource folder based on screen size, then we calculate the content scale factor by calling:
Search Paths
The search paths are used by
CCFileUtils to find the required resources, particularly images and sound files. The
Resources folder (described earlier) should have one folder for each of your resource definitions (HDR/HD/SD), where each one has identical images resized accordingly. For example, if you have an image whose path is
Resources/HDR/Button.png and whose size is 100×100 pixels, then there will be an image at
Resources/HD/Button.png sized 50×50 and another at
Resources/SD/Button.png sized 25×25.
When the application begins, you provide
CCFileUtils with the paths to search in the
Resources folder. Using the above example, if you provide it with
"HD" and then make a call to:
You will get back a texture using the image at


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In the letter of introduction to Einstein's 1916 paper on General Relativity, he writes,
The mathematical tools that are necessary for general relativity were readily available in the 'absolute different calculus,' which is based upon the research on non-Euclidean manifolds by Gauss, Riemann, and Christoffel, and which has been systematized by Ricci and Levi-Civita and has already been applied to problems of theoretical physics.
In what way had it already been applied to problems of theoretical physics?
See this for the quote.


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Heard Around the West
There's nothing like a bunch of twitchy-tailed rodents to annoy some people. The squirrel population in a Santa Monica park has mushroomed to 1,000, even though the city has tried poison and gassing to knock down the numbers and reduce any risk of the animals spreading disease. But nothing slows the animals' reproduction rate for long, and since 1998, the city has been cited five times by Los Angeles County for "squirrel overpopulation." So this summer, squirrels in Palisades Park will be injected with contraceptives, thanks to a birth control program pioneered at Berkeley. Not everyone agrees there's a problem: Catherine Rich, described by the Associated Press as an "animal activist," pooh-poohs a health risk. "There is not a pressing threat of squirrels attacking people," she said, "so I don't know why the county is getting their panties in a bunch."
A celebrity made the scene at a rural reservoir in western Colorado, dropping in by air and preening at all the attention, though at first she — later determined to be a he — was the one following people around like a groupie. The charismatic creature was a greater sandhill crane, a truly big bird at 4 feet tall. Orphaned at a young age after his parents and sibling were killed by a dog, the crane was rescued by a ranch hand and raised along with a flock of chickens in Nucla, a former uranium mill town. The crane flourished there for three years, but when his savior was stricken with cancer, the crane was dropped off at Fruitgrowers Reservoir during "Crane Days." The hope was that the bird, dubbed Baby, would bond with its "fowl-mates." Instead, the extrovert preferred hanging out with people who came to watch hundreds of migrating cranes gathered at the water. The Delta County Independent's headline captured the all-too-familiar story of a celebrity's descent: "Baby steals our hearts, then checks into rehab." In this case, rehabilitation is happening at the Schneegas Wildlife Foundation in Silt, Colo. Given Baby's need for human companionship and constant attention, the crane's final destination might well be a zoo.
Mail carrier Debra Smith, in Parker, Colo., told Mother Earth News that she knows something about bird pals: "I've had crows escort my left front bumper, and one of my current 'buddies' almost caused a five-car pileup when he momentarily landed on my head to get my attention." Smith carries dog food in her pocket for the crows, who now expect all mail carriers to come similarly equipped.
Maricopa County, which includes Phoenix, has a lot to crow about if you appreciate desert sprawl. It grew by 100,000 people in the year that ended last July 1, making it the county with the biggest population increase in the nation. Since 2000, the county has added 700,000 people. Maricopa County, which covers 9,200 miles, is bigger than New Jersey, says the New York Times.
We don't want to pick on the Interior Department, but it's just so easy to do. A recent investigation by the department's inspector general concluded that Julie A. MacDonald, deputy assistant secretary for fish, wildlife and parks, "yelled and cursed" at wildlife officials in an attempt to make them alter scientific field reports. The Washington Post says MacDonald in one case told field personnel to reduce the nesting range of the endangered Southwestern willow flycatcher from 2.1 miles to 1.8 miles. Her reason for the smaller range? It would exclude a ranch owned by her husband's family. The inspector general also found that MacDonald arbitrarily tried to reduce the amount of river flow needed for endangered Kootenai River sturgeon. Her rationale? Less flow would help dam operators. MacDonald, whose background is in civil engineering and not wildlife, also leaked confidential information to organizations such as the California Farm Bureau Federation and the Pacific Legal Foundation. In sending the foundation a 147-page draft of the Interior Department's critical habitat policies, she inquired: "Does that work for you?" Inspector General Earl Devaney referred the case to Interior's senior officials for potential administrative action.
Handheld boat horns look small at about 4 and a half inches, but the racket they make is "ear-scalding." So setting off even one of the aerosol-powered horns should make coyotes run for cover, right? That's the hope of the city of Oxnard, north of Los Angeles, where coyotes have invaded neighborhoods and a golf course and killed some pets. Some 1,000 residents will be given the noisemakers and trained in their use, which sounds like a sensible idea: At 112 decibels, boat horns can be heard up to a half-mile away. One skeptic told the Ventura County Star that the horns will create "disturbing-the-peace problems everywhere."
Betsy Marston is editor of Writers on the Range, a service of High Country News in Paonia, Colorado. Tips of Western oddities are always appreciated and often shared in the column, Heard around the West.


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School Bus Accident Attorney
The injuries suffered from a school bus accident range from death, severe friction burns, broken ankle, broken bones and even coma, just to name a few.
Recovering from physical pain and suffering and economic loss, past and present, is almost impossible without experienced and local California bus injury attorneys.
If you or someone you know has been injured in a school bus accident, you must retain experienced school bus accident attorneys like us! Don't waive your right to sue by "sleeping on your rights." Often the school board itself is liable for exposing vulnerable kids to harm that was avoidable.
Table of Contents:
- Fatalities and School Buses
- Why is Ehline Law So Special?
- School Bus Accident Statistics
- Common Causes of Mishaps
- 1 in 9 Deaths Caused by Commercial Transport
- Did you know that the school bus is the biggest form of mass transit in the USA today?
- How many kids die each year in school bus wrecks?
- What are the most dangerous hours in the day for an accident?
- How to find a school bus lawyer
Did You Know A School Transit Mishap is Highly Likely to Be Fatal?
The school bus accident statistics, discussed in more detail below, raise many other alarming issues for children and families. In fact, being injured by a school bus in California, in a major metropolis like Los Angeles, is very likely to be fatal. Childhood injuries are common on buses.
Why Seek the Counsel of Ehline Law Firm?
Read on and discover why you should retain Ehline Law Firm for your California personal injury case. We are statewide. We are based in Marina del Rey, California.
But our experienced advocates serve all Northern and Southern California cities. As a matter of fact, the firm is run by an inactive U.S. Marine.
So this is part of what makes us different. We are hard core advocates and take no prisoners.
What are the school Bus Accident Statistics
Every year thousands of traffic fatalities occur involving a school bus — people are killed and hundreds of thousands more are injured worldwide, as the result of school bus accidents.
In 2003, 457,000 large vehicles with a gross vehicle weight rating greater than 10,000 pounds were involved in traffic crashes in the United States; 4,669 heavy vehicles were involved in fatal traffic accidents.
The costs for fatal traffic accidents exceed $20 billion, including $8.7 billion in productivity losses, $2.5 billion in resource costs, and quality of life losses valued at $13.1 billion. A vehicle is considered large if its gross vehicle weight rating exceeds 10,000 pounds.
What are the most common causes for fatal traffic accidents in general?
- Lack of training on the part of the driver.
- Overloaded buses.
- Poorly maintained brakes.
- Driving a school bus in conditions of poor visibility due to fog, snow, rain, or smoke (e.g., school bus accident).
- School Bus driver inexperience.
- Fatigued, sleepy or tired big school bus operator; driving a school bus too long and too many hours without rest.
- Speeding in a school bus over the limit or driving a large vehicle at high speeds beyond the road and weather conditions.
- Running off the road.
- Failure to yield the right of way.
- Aggressive school bus driving behavior.
- School bus operator driving under the influence of drugs and alcohol.
- Unsafe safety systems, reflectors, lights, and other warning devices.
Did You Know that One of Nine Traffic Deaths Involves a Commercial Vehicle?
One out of every nine traffic fatalities involves a commercial vehicle accident like a mega bus, for example. School bus fatalities are all too common in California and the 50 states. In fact, in 2002, large vehicles accounted for 4% of all registered vehicles and 8% of total vehicle miles traveled.
In 2003, large vehicles accounted for 8% of all vehicles involved in fatal truck crashes and 4 percent of all vehicles involved in injury and property damage only crashes. Couple this with the below facts and you have a dangerous risk to families.
Did You Know that School Buses are the Largest Form of Mass Transit in the U.S.?
School buses are the biggest type of mass transit in the United States, providing almost nine million student trips every year. In comparison, this is twice as many passenger trips than are provided by transit buses across the nation.
Almost half a million school buses transport 24 million students to and from school, or school related activities, each school day. Since 1990, 407,000 fatal traffic accidents have occurred in the United States. School bus related accidents account for one third of one percent of these deaths.
National school bus accident statistics define a school bus-related crash as those that directly or indirectly involve a school bus-type vehicle, a vehicle functioning as a school bus by transporting students to or from school or related activities.
According to recent official school bus accident statistics, 1,450 people have been killed in school bus related accidents since 1990. Of these fatal accident victims, 67% were the occupants of other vehicles involved in the school bus accident, 25% were pedestrians or bicyclists, and nine% were passengers in school bus-type vehicles.
Do Twenty-Seven Kids Die Each Year in School Bus Incidents?
On average, yes it's true. These school bus accident statistics translate into: Approximately 27 school aged children die in school bus accidents every year. Seven of these are passengers in a school bus and twenty are pedestrians.
Of these twenty pedestrians, fourteen are killed by school buses and the other six are killed by other vehicles involved in a school bus accident. More than one-half of all pedestrian fatalities involve a child between the ages of five and seven.
Did You Know that the Hours Between Three and Four in the Afternoon are the Most Dangerous?
School bus accident statistics show that most school-aged pedestrians are killed in school bus accidents between the hours of three and four in the afternoon. The hour between seven and eight o'clock in the morning is also a time where children are most often the victim of school bus accidents.
According to school bus accident statistics, almost one-half (45%) of all school bus accidents involve impacts to the front end of a school bus. Other common crash types include right side effects, non-collisions, and left side impacts, rear impacts, and top impacts in descending order.
As a general rule, school buses are a reasonably safe method of transportation for school-aged children, as school bus accident statistics reveal. In 2003, not a single child was killed in a school bus related crash in 45 states. Often times when students are injured or killed in a school bus accident the circumstances were severe and at times unavoidable.
How To Hire A Lawyer?
If you, or someone you love, have been killed or injured in a school bus accident, you may be eligible to file a claim to seek compensation for a personal injury or wrongful death case. You may wish to speak to a Marina del Rey attorney.
In fact, this is an expert who can advise you of your legal rights and options in a school bus accident case. The Ehline Law Firm will be there to fight for your interests. So if you're hurt and reside or work in any Northern or Southern California City, e-mail or call us immediately.
The chances are, you will need money for hospital bills, lost wages and loss of use of your vehicle. We help with lawsuits in the Orange County Courts, Los Angeles Courts, San Bernardino Courts and beyond. Click For Info about Los Angeles Metro Bus accidents. No matter where or how you were injured, call before it's too late.


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Tampico is located in the southeastern part of the state of Tamaulipas, Mexico directly north of Veracruz. The present city was built in 1823 and derives its name from the Huastec meaning "place for otters". The city is surrounded by lagoons and rivers that were the habitat for a large population of otters. The city resembles the French Quarter of New Orleans as many of the building materials came from there including wrought iron balconies. And like New Orleans it is a lively and vibrant port city.
(Photo Via: Wikicommons)


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Filed under: war-machine | Tags: barricades, chile, death, democracy, molotov cocktail, police, repression, riot, santiago, youth
UTEM says: Neither dialogue nor referendums! Only barricades and molotovs!
"During the pathetic call to strike of the CUT which lasted two whole days, one could observe many actions of a social variety. In the first place, the objective of the strike, as explained by the Pinochetista Andres Chadwick (who was one of the violent agitators against the foreign priests who came to investigate human rights cases), was to "paralyze the country" (a strike that would paralyze? Attention, CQC, check this guy out); with him appeared a new media-police form wherein outcast workers and students violently attacked proletarians who tried to break with the social order which protects the violence of the State/Capital (alleged brothers in struggle violently attacking others because they oppose violence?). During the marches that happened downtown, one could clearly see that there were people ready to perform the function of the pólice, for which they should face the consequence of being attacked like the pólice.
The discourse of this entire mobilization was always the same, constitutional reforms to fortify the State/Capital and its capitalist education, labor laws that "protect" the proletariat while selling its labor power (not ending the sale of its labor power) and polite requests addressed to president Sebastian Pinera, that he please reign in this whole "social crisis" that is occurring (not even requiring that he be beheaded in the Plaza de Armas), rather than dealing with his ministers who are heirs to a military government, and one that is accountable to al Mossad in Israel every time they attack the proletariat.
But all is not lost, in fact we should be happy about the degree of violence in which the social joints in this country are going on. It's gratifying and thought-provoking that you can still function, even when you wake up in the morning and see the armed functionaries of capitalism being attacked at 6am, and fire and destruction in different parts of the country. It is thus that a group of encapuchados went out at 10pm from UTEM at Macul and Grecia to demonstrate that violence is the only way to destabilize the State/Capital and break with the imperative social order that protects its continuous violence against the proletariat. As soon as they began to burn a barricade in front of UTEM, a PDI contingent appeared in a flash, armed with pellet-rifles, with the intention of attacking anyone and everyone, be they the comrades of UTEM who defended themselves with molotov cocktails or people who were simply passing by, including those who were in the surrounding area. After a short confrontation with the PDI, the assassination-respression organ left the scene, which led to a direct confrontation with the military pólice who began to utilize the same method of shooting directly at the bodies of everyone nearby. At the end of this clash, the comrades entered the University once again, making it clear that the conditions for negotiation put forward by the political parties do not represent the proletariat with a class consciousness, and that the solution goes far beyond that, to the abolition of every kind of domination, of class society, and for this there is only the path of political violence which leading toward communism and anarchy."
From Contra Info:
"In the night of August 26th, in Jaime Eyzaguirre neighbourhood of Manuel Gutiérrez Reinoso who was shot dead by police, his relatives and friends held a candle ceremony in the memory of the deceased and marched in the streets of Macul community. Protest gatherings and marches took place in various Chilean cities, as well as in Buenos Aires, Argentina. In Alameda Avenue in downtown Santiago, after 19.00 the cops used violence, water cannons and tear gas to break up the protest march of more than 200 demonstrators. Five protesters were detained, and people in solidarity responded by setting up barricades and clashing with the repressive forces.
The total number of detainees across Chile during the demonstrations of the 48hour general strike (August 24th-25th) is 1,394 people. More than 300 were charged with minor or major violent disorder, assault on police officers and looting, in the majority of cases. Most of the persecuted people were released on restrictive bail conditions; namely they are obliged to appear periodically before the authorities, they are banned from exiting the country and banned from participating in manifestations. Furthermore, more than 20 protesters (the precise number is yet unconfirmed) were charged with firearms possession, and some have been held in custody.
During the protests on Thursday, August 25th, in Santiago, three Colombian youngsters who threw objects against Carabiniers were followed and snatched by undercover agents of the Dipolcar political police. One of them was released. The other two youngsters — one 15-year-old and one 20-year-old — were charged with public violent disorder, and the prosecutor demanded their expulsion from the country. The 15-year-old boy is a political refugee and will not be deported, but the 20-year-old Colombian is threatened with expulsion due to the fact that he joined the protests. In the meantime, the authorities of Santiago Province have filed a lawsuit against the arrested immigrants. (It must be noted that on August 19th in Bogotá, Colombia, a 16-year-old graffitist, Diego Felipe Becerra, has been shot dead in cold blood by national police; protest marches followed Diego's death.)
It is clear that this repressive action serves as an exemplary measure against all immigrants who live in Chile, so that they know what can happen to them if they protest. Hundreds of thousands of immigrants are being exploited, live in over-crowed homes, and suffer constant discriminations because of their origin and a long list of humiliations for the sole reason of coming from another country. These people could explode at any time against oppression; that's why the Power suppresses brutally any immigrant that has the 'nerve' to protest. In the past, the State of Chile has deported immigrants on the grounds of their participation in gatherings and demos, their solidarity with the Mapuche people or their close relations with left and anarchist radical groups.
Also, on August 25th, a 12-year-old kid was hit in the face by a tear gas grenade during the manifestations in Concepción. The boy's cheek was deformed after one of the Chilean police murderers fired tear gas against him, near the city's university.
This is not something new: After the rally for public education on May12th, Carabiniers brutally invaded the University of Concepción. The student Paulina Rubilar was severely injured in one eye by a tear gas grenade.
The murderous practice of firing tear gas straight at demonstrators, along with the extensive use of rubber bullets and plastic pellets has caused injuries to hundreds of people in recent months. Plastic pellets, in addition to causing permanent injuries, can also be fatal —as had happened on March 27th, 1984, during the students protests of the era, when the 24-year-old student Caupolicán Inostroza Lamas was killed by plastic pellets fired by servants of Pinochet's dictatorship that struck him in the throat.
Nevertheless it seems that bourgeois democracy transcends dictatorship. It is worth mentioning that manifestations against Chile's billionaire president Sebastián Piñera take place in most (but not all) of the places where he shows up. His government tries to cover up the case of Manuel Gutiérrez Reinoso's murder. At the same time, police spokesmen deny that a cop, a man of their kind, shot the boy while the corporate media reproduce blatant scenarios in order to weaken the case of state murder.
In a joint statement, the residents of Jaime Eyzaguirre neighbourhood — where the murdered teenager lived — confirm that the police alone are responsible for this murder, like all the testimonies indicate, including that of Manuel's 22-year-old brother who was with him at the time of murder. The district falls under the jurisdiction of the 43rd Police Department of Peñalolén. In the same statement the residents report that another neighbour was injured in the shoulder by the cops' shootings. According to the regime's Press, a youngster confirmed the existence of the injured neighbour. He added that when the patrol car appeared on Amanda Labarca Street, protesters began to hurdle stones on it, and then the cops opened gunfire. However, Manuel was killed nearly 70 metres from the point where the clashes evolved."
Filed under: war-machine | Tags: anarchy, anti-police, burning, london, looting, police, police shooting, riots, UK, youth
I'm really sorry. I was on vacation with no internet while London was burning, where a police shooting sparked rage toward society at large… So here's a late compilation of videos. I'll post some articles when I have a chance as well.


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Flandersflăn´dərz [key], former county in the Low Countries, extending along the North Sea and W of the Scheldt (Escaut) River. It is divided among East Flanders and West Flanders provs., Belgium; Nord and Pas-de-Calais depts., France; and (to a small extent) Zeeland prov., the Netherlands. The name Flanders is also used for all the Dutch-speaking areas of Belgium. Flanders varied considerably in size in the course of its history and at one time also included Artois and parts of Picardy. In Belgian Flanders, Dutch is spoken by the majority of the inhabitants.
Sections in this article:
- Introduction
- History
- Bibliography
The Columbia Electronic Encyclopedia, 6th ed. Copyright © 2012, Columbia University Press. All rights reserved.
See more Encyclopedia articles on: Benelux Political Geography


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Boutique Cruise Line Will Sail to 30 Maiden Ports and Take Special Voyages to Global Events including Monaco Grand Prix, Cannes Film Festival, Russia World Cup, The Open and More
MIAMI, FL (November 1, 2015) – Azamara®, the boutique cruise line known for its premier destination-immersive voyages, today unveiled its 2018 itineraries. In 2018, Azamara will offer 69 voyages to 228 ports (including 30 new ports) in 64 countries. Azamara will return to Australia and New Zealand as well as exotic, smaller ports the big ships aren't able to access. The line will also introduce a 102 day World Journey taking adventurers across the globe visiting 61 ports in 29 countries beginning in Sydney, Australia on April 8 and ending in London, England on June 17.
Destination Immersion® Experiences
Azamara provides guests with unique access to activities and adventures on land through its signature programming. AzAmazing Evening events bring guests bespoke cultural experiences complimentary - imagine being serenaded by candlelight, viewing of an incredible festival of song and dance, or taking in a magical show at a local theater. Longer stays and overnights in ports make night touring possible with Destination Immersion® experiences that bring the sights, sounds and flavors of local cultures after dark to life.
Azamara's Cruise Global, Connect LocalSMshore excursions programs can be customized or enjoyed by groups. Exclusive tours and excursions via Cruise Global, Meet Local and Cruise Global, Nights Local programs curate experiences for guests, such as a guided walk around illuminated landmarks at night, after-hours museum visit, and access to live performances, to complement daytime explorations. Azamara will also continue to expand its newest Cruise Global, Taste Local program providing guests with a guide to dining in local restaurants serving authentic fare in each destination.
Visiting World Events
As Azamara transports guests around the globe in 2018, several high profile global events can be enjoyed:
Hole-in-One Seekers: Golf lovers can time voyages to visit The Open in July sailing from Southampton to Edinburgh as well as three other special voyages – Auckland to Sydney for 13 days departing February 22 to golf at Kauri Cliffs and Cape Kidnappers, Barcelona to Lisbon for nine days departing May 29 to golf at Vilamoura and Valderrama as well as Copenhagen to Stockholm for 11 days departing August 9 to golf at Restonian Golf & Country Club and Bro Hoff Slott.
Speed Demons and Film Buffs: Adrenaline junkies can fuel their passion on Azamara voyages to the Monaco Grand Prix and the Classic Grand Prix (held every other year). Azamara Journey will sail from Rome to Barcelona for eight days departing May 29 combining it with two days in Cannes at the Cannes Film Festival and two days in Monte Carlo including race day. Azamara Quest will also feature a four day voyage focused on the race roundtrip from Nice.
Maiden Ports of Call
With itineraries that don't repeat in the calendar year, Azamara has fast become the most popular line for booking back to back voyages. In 2018, 30 of the 228 ports of call will be new for the line brining guests to a variety of smaller ports that big ships can't access. These gems span the globe including European post in Gdansk, Poland, Dundee, Scotland and Klaipeda, Lithuania as well as more exotic locales like Hambantota, Sri Lanka, Geraldton, Australia and Perth (Fremantle), Australia.
More 2018 Voyage Highlights:
- Explore the Islands of the Western Mediterranean sailing from Rome to Barcelona (Azamara Quest June 2018). Take in every detail of the cobblestone alleyways, elegant esplanades, cliff-side footpaths, waterfront promenades, and roads made of marble.
- Visit the War Cabinet Rooms where Churchill directed British participation in World War II, including the Map Room, before a traditional pub lunch on a World War II voyage from Lisbon to London (Azamara Journey June 2018)
- Each year a temporary bridge, floating on pontoons, is erected over the Giudecca Canal between the Zattere and the Church of the Redentore for the annual Redentore Festival celebration (Azamara Quest July 2018). Enjoy feasts and a stunning firework display that takes place over the water between St. Mark's and the Giudecca.
- Ring in the New Year first with fireworks in Sydney Harbor on the Perth to Melbourne sailing (Azamara Quest December 2018). After an evening of sipping champagne visit sites such as the iconic Sydney Opera House, Manly Beach, Darling Harbor, and Taronga Zoo for the Australian wildlife exhibits while taking in wonderful views of Sydney Harbor.
"Our 2018 itineraries might be our best voyages yet. As we up the ante to deliver our guests unique and unmatched experiences to visit some of the world's most interesting destinations and take in sought after events, we feel 2018 will be special for new and repeat travelers," said Larry Pimentel, president and CEO of Azamara. "We offer voyages for every type of traveler. Delivering on our promise to think outside the ship, Azamara sailings continue to pique curiosity and deliver meaningful, enriching immersions to those who consider themselves global citizens."
On board the Azamara Journey and Azamara Quest, guests receive exceptional and personal service and enjoy fine cuisine and boutique wines from around the world, as well as more inclusive amenities, such as included gratuities; complimentary bottled water, sodas, specialty coffee, and teas, as well as complimentary boutique wines, international beers and select standard spirits in the ships' bars, lounges and restaurants when open; complimentary self-service laundry; English Butler service for suite guests; and shuttle transportation to city centers in ports, where available.
For a full list of 2018 Azamara Voyages, click here.
For more information, travelers can call their travel professional, dial 1-877-999-9553, or visit ww.Azamara.com. Connect with Azamara on Facebook at www.facebook.com/AzamaraClubCruises, on Twitter @AzamaraVoyages or follow President and CEO @LarryPimentel. Travel agent professionals can access more information and make reservations at www.CruisingPower.com.
About Azamara
Azamara is a brand of Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd. (NYSE/OSX: RCL), a global cruise vacation company that also owns Royal Caribbean International, Celebrity Cruises, Pullmantur, and CDF Croisières de France, as well as TUI Cruises through a 50 percent joint venture. Together, the six brands operate a combined total of 41 ships with four under construction. They operate diverse itineraries around the world that call on approximately 460 destinations on all seven continents.


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Search Results
1 - 1 of 1 items :
- Author: Fabrizio Ceciliani x
- Medicine x
- Basic Medical Science x
Development of Simple Multiplex Real-Time PCR Assays for Foodborne Pathogens Detection and Identification On Lightcycler
Most acute intestinal diseases are caused by food-borne pathogens. A fast and simple real-time PCR-based procedure for simultaneous detection of food contamination by any of the five food-borne pathogens: Campylobacter jejuni, Mycobacterium bovis, Enterobacter sakazaki, Shigella boydii, Clostridium perfrigens using multiplex EvaGreen real-time PCR for LightCycler was developed and evaluated. Real-time qPCR showed excellent sensitivity. Tm calling and Melting Curve Genotyping (MCG) were used for analysis of PCR product melting curves. The Melting Curve Genotyping option showed good performance for discrimination of positive samples containing DNA of single pathogen or pathogen mixtures from negative samples.


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LCEF offers loans for organizations/RSOs, congregations and individuals who qualify as Rostered Church Workers. If you are interested in a loan, please complete the form below.
Click here to download the application
Thank you for downloading "Investing Basics: A Guide to Understanding Your Options." We've sent you an email with a link to download your guide. The email should be in your inbox shortly.
As a consultant for Capital Funding Services (CFS), Randy enjoys assisting the Lord's people in experiencing the joys of generosity. He is a firm believer in the Scriptural truth that "whoever sows bountifully will also reap bountifully" (2 Corinthians 9:6). He says, "Stewardship is simply reflecting the image of our generous God, who has blessed us in Christ with every spiritual blessing." His leadership has encouraged his congregation to provide generous support for ministries locally, regionally, nationally and internationally.
Randy has been a parish pastor for 35 years. For the past 28 years, he has been serving First Immanuel Lutheran Church, Cedarburg, Wisconsin. Leading a large congregation has enabled him to experience six capital campaigns, allowing him to provide great insights to pastors in capital campaigns and stewardship.
Randy has served Concordia University Wisconsin as an adjunct professor of theology for 26 years. In 2010, the university awarded him the honor of "Distinguished Alumnus." He has also served 12 years on the South Wisconsin District Board of Directors, including six years as Board Chair and First Vice President of the district. He conducts seminars on generosity and provides encounters for parish pastors to discuss cultural issues and the church's impact.
Randy resides in Cedarburg, Wisconsin, with his wife, Diana, who is the South Wisconsin District's Lutheran Church Extension Fund's District Vice President. They have two married daughters and three granddaughters. Randy's mission statement is to serve God by serving others.


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Two drunk, loud and usually obnoxious "families" are vying for viewers on the midseason TV schedule: The guidos of "Jersey Shore" and the Gallaghers of "Shameless."
Some might say comparing a reality show to a scripted drama is like comparing apples to oranges, but as you read above, there are similarities between these two shows. If you had to watch only one, which would it be? Oh, I have that answer.
Nothing says winter like a cold wind chilling you to the bone, which is exactly what I felt as I typed "Jersey Shore."
They're baack! And despite being tanned within an inch of their lives, The Situation, Snooki, JWoww, Pauly D., Deena, Ronnie, Sammi and Vinny do nothing to warm me up as I contemplate their fifth season, in which they return to Seaside Heights after terrorizing Italy in Season 4. As evidenced by the season premiere (9 p.m. Jan. 5, MTV; half star), nothing has really changed. The gang gets ripped—surprise!—during a welcome-back party at Captain Hook's that leads to the most ridiculous non-smackdown between Snooki and The Situation's pal, Jonny "The Unit" Manfre.
"Like, who are you?" Snooki asks. And the snark flies. And Sitch says "stop" like, a thousand times. Stop, please. Stop. In my reality-TV-hating opinion, the whole stretch-our-15-minutes lot of them should be stricken from the air.
If you want bold activities, high drama and laughs motivated by something other than fame, tune in for Season 2 of "Shameless" (8 p.m. Jan. 8, Showtime; 3.5 stars). The scripted series follows the misadventures of the Gallagher family, whose deadbeat dad father (William H. Macy) can't stay sober long enough to care for his clan of six kids ranging in age from adult to toddler. With exteriors filmed all over Chicago last summer and fall, this series offers a look at the South Side in warm weather—and the action heats up plenty. Three episodes in, and I am in love with the Gallaghers all over again. (More on that later.)
The Gallagher family and friends brawl, drink too much and do some shocking things (mostly Frank), but you actually feel something other than embarrassment or irritation when you watch them. Unlike the guidos, the Gallaghers have heart, soul and most importantly, something to say.
Click here for 20 brand new reality and scripted series premiering this winter.
Click here for a guide to January premiere dates.
Here are 15 scripted shows returning for new seasons that are worth watching.
- "Portlandia," 9 p.m. Jan. 6, IFC
- "The Increasingly Poor Decisions of Todd Margaret," 9:30 p.m. Jan. 6, IFC
- "Downton Abbey," 8 p.m. Jan. 8, WTTW
- "Californication," 9:30 p.m. Jan. 8, Showtime
- "30 Rock," 7 p.m. Jan. 12, NBC
- "Fringe," 8 p.m. Jan. 13, Fox
- "Being Human," 8 p.m. Jan. 16, Syfy
- "Justified," 9 p.m. Jan. 17, FX
- "Southland," 9 p.m. Jan. 17, TNT
- "White Collar," 9 p.m. Jan. 17, USA
- "Archer," 9 p.m. Jan. 19, FX
- "Spartacus: Vengeance," 9 p.m. Jan. 27, Starz
- "The Walking Dead," 8 p.m. Feb. 12, AMC
- "Eastbound & Down," 9 p.m. Feb. 19, HBO
- "Bob's Burgers," 8:30 p.m. March 11, Fox
Here are the premiere dates for 15 high-profile returning reality series.
- "Project Runway All Stars," 8 p.m. Jan. 5, Lifetime
- "Face Off," 9 p.m. Jan. 11, Syfy
- "Kitchen Nightmares," 7 p.m. Jan. 13, Fox
- "Undercover Boss," 7 p.m. Jan. 15, CBS
- "American Idol," 7 p.m. Jan. 18-19, Fox
- "RuPaul's Drag Race," 8 p.m. Jan. 30, Logo
- "The Voice," after Super Bowl on Feb. 5, then 7 p.m. Feb. 6, NBC
- "The Real Housewives of Orange County," 8 p.m. Feb. 7, Bravo
- "The Celebrity Apprentice," 8 p.m. Feb. 12, NBC
- "Survivor," 7 p.m. Feb. 15, CBS
- "The Amazing Race," 7 p.m. Feb. 19, CBS
- "Dancing with the Stars," 7 p.m. March 19, ABC
- "Khloe & Lamar," 9 p.m. Feb. 19, E!
- "Ice Loves Coco," 9:30 p.m. Feb. 19, E!
- "Joan and Melissa: Joan Knows Best?" 8 p.m. Jan. 24, Wetv


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Why? Because her handcrafted jewelry - sold under the name Sparc Jewelry - made from semi-precious and precious stones, natural crystals and sterling silver, are a hit with locals and tourists.
Lieberman creates her pieces out of organic materials like Peruvian opal, aquamarine and topaz, often embedded into metals.
Her imagination and inspiration, which she finds from her surroundings have enabled her to create earrings, such as the multi grape clusters that are often ordered by customers for weddings as well as chains that have unique designs such as her signature "ladder" chains, her petal spheres chains and the crab claw and sea horse pendants, which are often set with diamonds.
According to Lieberman, Sparc combines hard-edged, cosmopolitan designs with the opulence and softer influence of the ocean, sand and mountains.
She enjoys mixing colors and textures and making her pieces unique to the individual and distinct from other designers.
"As a teenager my mother taught me how to be creative," she said. "She taught me the art of beading and soon I started making things for myself."
It wasn't until after she moved to Venice Beach, California that she really decided to pursue jewelry making. It was hard for her to find a job when she moved there in 2001 and almost at a breaking point, a close friend at the time suggested that she craft some pieces.
It provided her not only with comfort but with a new way to rake in some dollars. She soon set up shop at Venice Beach, where her jewelry became a hit.
In 2003, she moved back to New York and began learning silversmitting and diamond setting. This enabled her creations to become more upscale. "The response I was receiving was really great," she said.
She receives her inspiration to create from many things and with her current day job, she tries to create as often as she can. "I design everything myself, it's my own concept, my own process," she said.
She never duplicates. Instead, she might take an idea and evolve it even more, giving it her touch.
"I find it almost religious that things can be found organically. I look around at everything and I get ideas from other people's work but I use that to make my creations more unique," she said.
Growing up, Lieberman often visited Provincetown and the beach has had a lasting impact on her and her designs, particularly her crab claw pendant line.
Lieberman loves to create designs that go beyond the current trends, enabling people to wear them for years.
She often sells her creations at the Artists and Fleas market in Williamsburg, at Giving Tree Jewelry and at her own website, sparcjewelry.com. In time, she plans to open her own store and even hire other artists to be part of Sparc. "For now, this is just the icing," she said.


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Interspace Armageddon
|Interspace Armageddon
|Episode Guide
|Bakugan: Mechtanium Surge
|Episode No.
|Behind the Mask
|Dark Moon
Interspace Armageddon is the 24th episode of Bakugan: Mechtanium Surge. It aired on July 31, 2011.
With everybody gathered in the control room, Marucho explains his plan to delete Bakugan Interspace in order to prevent Mag Mel from getting to Earth, calling the plan "Interspace Armageddon". He also says that Kato and his dad, Kyosuke, are working very hard to reboot an access point.
They then split into two groups: One group distracts the Chaos Bakugan while the other tries to round up the remaining battlers. Once they rounded all the battlers, the two groups meet up at the access point. The access point is then activated along with the deletion program. However, since Dylan doesn't want to be destroyed, he tells the Chaos Bakugan where the Brawlers were and they arrive there along with Dreadeon clones and the former Bakugan of Team Anubias and Team Sellon. The Brawlers fight them off but more Mechtogan arrive as some of the battlers begin to leave as they try to defeat the Bakugan, who attacks the BI and Krakenoid and Krowll mutate to form Mutant Krakenoid. The Bakugan prove too much but a Mechtogan attacks from the sky. The Brawlers has never seen it before and begin to wonder who it is until Infinity Helios appears and says that it is his Mechtogan, Slynix. Also, alongside with him, Spectra Phantom comes to give a hand.
With his addition, they are defeating many of the Dreadeon clones. However, Mutant Krakenoid switches into Mutant Krowll and uses Haos Hydra to trap Helios. Then, Venexus Titan is summoned and the Dreadeon clones makes a portal to summon Mag Mel. Drago suggests to do a mutation and Rafe explains that he can only mutate with a Bakugan of the same Power Level. Dan and Spectra accept the challenge and gives his forces to Drago and Helios to mutate and form Mercury Dragonoid and Mutant Helios; together managed to destroy the remaining Chaos Bakugan and Mechtogan and they destroy the portal. Everyone else stay apart except for Dan and Spectra. Kato discovers a problem in the BI and more Dreadeon clones arrive. Spectra tells Dan to leave to continue battling with Helios, Dan leaves yelling his name and when he returns to the control room, the deletion begins leaving all the Dreadeon clones, Dylan, Spectra and Helios trapped inside of them. The Brawlers mourn their loss and they look outside, as many people think they see a dark moon, the Brawlers really know that it is Mag Mel, who he has actually absorbed the energy from the deletion program and the catharsis was completed, revealing an Evolved Razenoid.
Bakugan Debut[edit]
Bakugan Seen[edit]
- Titanium Dragonoid
- Ziperator
- Clawsaurus
- Infinity Trister
- Infinity Helios
- Taylean
- Boulderon
- Wolfurio
- Horridian
- Mutant Krakenoid
- Krakenoid
- Bolcanon
- Spyron
- Vertexx
- Krowll
- Flash Ingram
- Cyclone Percival
- Mutant Krowll
- Mutant Helios
- Mercury Dragonoid
- Spidaro
- Evolved Razenoid
Mechtogan Debut[edit]
Mechtogan Seen[edit]
Mechtogan Titan Seen[edit]
- This marks the final appearance of Bakugan Interspace.


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Articles in Coupon Services, Exhibits: Truss Systems, Millennial Marketing, Sports Marketing, Flooring and Survey Tools
BizBash Top 1000 People in the U.S. Event Industry
by BizBash
Lacy Maxwell, CEO of Lacy Maxwell Experiential honored in BizBash "Top 100 People in the U.S. Event Industry"... Read full article
Featured Resource - Trade Shows: Renting vs. Buying
Trade Shows: Renting vs. BuyingRenting, buying, or a combination of both: you have options for your next trade show. This infographic will help you decide the best approach for your unique situation.... Read full article
REPORT: Future-Proofing the Sports Fan Experience
This new experiential research uncovers what today's younger fans are already seeking and what sponsors and teams will need to provide more of to stay competitive. ... Read full article
VideoBooth @ RootsTech 2018
VideoBooth technology is allowing Ancestry to quickly and effectivly survey participants and gather video feedback... Read full article
New Research: Experiential EQ
GMR Marketing's latest research has uncovered an entirely new framework for understanding human emotion in the experiential space—and a deeper, better way for brands to create connections that last. ... Read full article
How a Donation Led to the Ultimate Moonwalk
As a kid, did you ever want to walk on the moon? Maybe you still dream of going into space one day. Thanks to a donation, a lucky group of second graders at St. Albert the Great School in Kettering, Ohio step foot on the moon every time they walk...... Read full article
2 Crucial Considerations: How to Understand What Goes on in the Boardroom
It's a question that has plagued event marketers for decades: what happens behind the scenes in the companies you work with to pitch your product or service?... Read full article
Lunar New Year Brings Big Branding Opportunities
In some Asian Culture, Lunar New Year is a major holiday. Time for family & friends gathering, a full feast and red pocket exchange. In China, many companies are closed during this time as employees return to their home town to celebrate the New...... Read full article


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Autumn Sausage Corn Soup
I cook this frequently throughout the year, but my family especially loves it on cold nights. Cayenne pepper, sausage and ham lend to tis fabulous Cajun flavor. —Belinda Desselle, Westlake, Louisiana
Total TimePrep: 45 min. Cook: 1 hour
Makes11 servings (about 2-1/2 quarts)
- 3/4 pound fully cooked smoked sausage, sliced
- 1/4 cup all-purpose flour
- 1/4 cup canola oil
- 1/2 cup chopped onion
- 1/2 cup chopped green pepper
- 3 green onions, chopped
- 3-1/2 cups water
- 1 package (16 ounces) frozen corn
- 1-1/2 cups cubed fully cooked ham
- 1 can (14-1/2 ounces) diced tomatoes, undrained
- 1 cup chopped fresh tomatoes
- 1 can (6 ounces) tomato paste
- 1/4 teaspoon salt, optional
- 1/8 teaspoon cayenne pepper
- Hot pepper sauce to taste
- In a large skillet, cook and stir sausage over medium-high heat until browned; drain well and set aside.
- In a Dutch oven or soup kettle, cook and stir the flour in oil over medium heat for 5 minutes or until golden brown. Add the onion, green pepper and green onions; saute until tender.
- Stir in the water, corn, ham, tomatoes, fresh tomatoes, tomato paste, salt, if desired, cayenne, hot pepper sauce and sausage. Bring to a boil. Reduce heat; cover and simmer for 1 hour, stirring occasionally.


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Since that time, the programs offered by The Quick Center have grown exponentially, offering a rich cache of resources for academic instruction in the visual and performing arts while also serving as a cultural hub for regional collaboration and thought.
The Quick Center offers a number of resources for the education and entertainment of its varied audiences. The center is comprised of the 321-seat Rigas Family Theater, the F. Donald Kenney Museum & Art Study Wing, art storage areas, and instructional spaces for the visual and performing arts. Included among these instructional areas are a MIDI (musical instrument digital interface) laboratory, instrumental and vocal rehearsal rooms, an art history/slide projection classroom, and a practice room suites.
The Quick Center dedicated the F. Donald Kenney Museum and Art Study Wing on St. Patrick's Day 2000. With this opening came two new galleries, creating a total of four exhibit halls; a prints and drawings/study room and support spaces. Made possible through the generous contribution of the late F. Donald Kenney, a University trustee and arts patron, the new museum and study wing joins the center to create a first-rate facility for the education and entertainment of student and regional audiences.
The Quick Center thrives because of your belief in the value of the arts. You can help ensure that The Quick Center continues to provide programming that enhances the cultural enrichment of our community by joining The Guild for the Quick Center or through our Take A Seat campaign. Learn more.
Application forms, procedures and additional information
There are many ways to experience
St. Bonaventure for yourself
Learn more about the programs that interest you


text: Flashie_Dirk 0 Posted July 4, 2012 Hi, As a semi-avid Descent and DOOM player, I really appreciated the extra dice sets that were on sale - because you can never have enough dice! So I would be very happy if there'd be additional Descent 2nd edition dice sets. I'd be sure to order 5 sets. I contacted FFG, and they told me they'd forward the idea to sales to show that there is demand for such a product. Maybe the community can show how much demand there is by replying to this topic. Please respond with something like "I would buy n sets" if (and only if) you intend to buy them. Thanks! Dirk Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites


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From the first telephones and exchanges, as well as the Ericofon and AXE telephone exchange systems of the 1900's as well as the mobile systems and mobile phones of later times. Also lesser known Ericsson products are presented here.
The telephones
The Skeleton Type 1892
Sony Ericsson T610 from 2003
The Bakelite telephone 1931
The Ericofon / Cobra 1956 (1954)
Diavox 1978
Ericsson's wall telephone set (the pulpit telephone) from 1882
Ericsson's metal encased desk telephones 1893-1929
Unifon (Uniphone) 1944
Breakthrough in Gävle
The "Cobra" – named by the Swedish people
The telephone handset – a successful introduction
The innovative bakelite telephone
Diavox – a keypad phone for AXE
Ericsson's videophone
A revolutionary speakerphone
Dialog – the popular choice
The Switches
The motor-driven 500-switch
From AKE to AXE
AXE – a multi-dimensional system
The crossbar switch
AXE – a ticket to the major league
AKE – an electronic dead end
Development of the AXE system
The 500 switch – a workhorse
The crossbar switch – from concept to success
The world's largest telephone exchange
Crossbar switches replace operators
Other products
The golden days of the Radiola
Development of semiconductors
Network defense now a reality
What constitutes an innovation?
The transistor – an invention ahead of its time
Radiola – a beautiful combination of technology and design
The galloping frying pan
Focus on business communications
Burglar alarms, rescue equipment and electric fences


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Barra: Recall crisis stemmed from GM's communication breakdowns
By Nora Naughton, Crain News Service
DETROIT (May 30, 2014) — General Motors Co. CEO Mary Barra said in an interview published May 29 that she didn't know when GM's ignition switch defect surfaced because the company is so vast and communication between GM's 219,000 employees — 326,000 at the time the problem emerged — broke down.
"In product engineering we had over 30,000 employees," Ms. Barra told Forbes in an interview posted on the magazine's website. "You have to count on each design release engineer and person in that organization doing their job and elevating issues as they occur and there's a structure to do that…. You can't possibly know what every individual is doing."
The recalled ignition switches in 2.6 million vehicles are linked to 13 deaths — and trial lawyers and safety advocates have said the figure is higher. On top of an internal investigation into the matter, there are multiple federal investigations looking at the way GM handled the defective switches and why it took so long to recall the affected vehicles. The results of the nearly three-month long internal investigation could be released as early as next week.
In April, GM tried to be proactive about the communication problems by creating the Speak Up for Safety program, designed to give recognition to the employees who find ways to make vehicles safer and who say something when they see a potential safety risk.
"There were silos, and as information was known in one part of the business, for instance the legal team, it didn't necessarily get communicated as effectively as it should have been to other parts, for instance the engineering team," Ms. Barra told a Congressional committee in April.
Ms. Barra, who served as head of global product development for GM before becoming CEO in January, also told Congress that a "cost culture" in the early 2000s at the company contributed to the ignition switch problem.
"Look at the work we were asking people to do as we were restructuring, and shrinking and taking costs out," Ms. Barra told Forbes.
There has been some media speculation that Ms. Barra was appointed CEO because GM needed a woman at the helm to take the fall. She says there is no merit to the theory.
"I believe this issue came up, and we learned about it, the leadership learned about it on Jan. 31 and we're dealing with it," Ms. Barra told Forbes. "And it just happened to be two weeks after I officially came into this job."
Ms. Barra also discussed why she met with victims' families in Washington before her testimony before lawmakers.
"Because they made the request, and I put myself in their shoes and I thought they deserved to be heard," she said. "It was difficult, but it's a difficult situation they're in…I thought they needed to know that General Motors cared, and that we listened."
For the entire interview, click here.
This report appeared on autonews.com, the website of Automotive News, a Detroit-based sister publication of Tire Business.
Do you have an opinion about this story? Do you have some thoughts you'd like to share with our readers? Tire Business would love to hear from you. Email your letter to Editor Don Detore at [email protected].


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- Residential Sunroom Additions service
- Top-notch Services!
- We Deliver Solutions!
- Top-quality Services
Knowing the strategy
To come up with the very best decisions concerning Sunroom Additions in Angoon, AK, you should be knowledgeable. We will be sure you know exactly what should be expected. That's the reason we make every attempt to make sure that you are aware of the strategy and aren't confronted by any unexpected surprises. You can start by going over the project with our customer care associates when you contact 888-356-0188. We will address your questions and schedule your preliminary appointment. We will work with you throughout the whole project, and our staff will appear on time and ready.
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Where The Hell Are You, Jenn ?!?
Well, I'm right here, gosh darn it. You can check out all the lovely new details about my life over on the "Veganize This" official blog. Linky link here:
As for why I haven't posted a recipe, well, the book's almost out, silly bears. I have been busier than a bee gearing up for this (and some other exciting projects).
Plus be sure to read all the way to the bottom of the other post to check out what my wife's been up to. Just as exciting as my life.
Ta ta for now! I'll be back with a recipe next month.
Happy Jew Year!